The document describes a biomimicry mapping process that analyzed the town of Northcliffe, Western Australia as a human body. Various parts of the town were analogized to organs like blood vessels, muscles, bones, and lungs. The mapping led to a study of "Metabolic Architecture" and a proposal to conceive of towns as living organisms that can organically grow and transform in response to their environments. Tree ring growth was analyzed to propose architectural interventions in Northcliffe that would provide "shelter" and stimulate growth in identified "fat" areas needing improvement. A visual journey guided by an app was proposed to explain Northcliffe's growth narrative through the architectural manifestations of tree rings.

1. // M I C R O - M A C R O
The mapping process began with a
micro - macrco narrative; analysing the
town of Northcliffe as a human body. This
involved analogizing the town as
particular organs that keep the heart of the
town pumping.
// BLOOD;
The blood is the people,
and the veins are the
roads they travel on.
// STOMACH;
The buildings in town
that contribute to
necessary processing.
eg) school, post office
// MUSCLES;
The town’s physical
grid; the structure
// BONES;
Built infustructure.
// LUNGS;
The breath of the
town; the forrest.
> > F A T
Once the vital organs were diliberated,
the left over spaces denoted the fat of
Northcliffe. The toxic fat is shown in black as
the areas closest to the atteries and
stomach.This area of ‘fat’ can be recognised
as a threshold to work within to improve the
metabolic rate of Northcliffe.
/ / M E T A B O L I C A R C H I T E C T U R E
The biomimicry / micro-macro mapping lead to the study of Metabolic
Architecture, a movement in Japan after the World War. The
movement stated that cities and towns shared the ability of living
organisms to keep growing, reproducing and transforming in response to
their environments. Towns should be conceived as living beings, and
therefore grow organically , accoridng to the needs of their inhabitants.
As architecture is the vehicle being used to implement growth, I looked
towards what Architecture already exised;
architecture in the literal and metaphorical sense of shelter.
The history of Northcliffe and defining events were also explored as
a means of exploring the growth habits that already exist in the town.
> > S E E D S of ARCHITECTURE as SHETER
+ SHELTER FROM ISOLATION
COMMUNITY BUILDINGS SHOWN BLACK
+ SHELTER FROM LONG DRIVES+ SHELTER FROM LONG DRIVES
ROADS AND RESTING AREAS SHOWN ORANGE, PICNIC
AREAS SHOWN CIRCLED IN GREEN
+ SHELTER FROM THE RAIN
BLUE SHOWS CONTOURS AND WATER FLOW
+SHELTER FROM DISASTER
FIRE BREAKS THRESHOLD
+ SHELTER FROM THE CITY
SURROUNDING NATIONAL PARKS AND WALKING TRAILS
> > > > > > >


PERTH REGION
PEEL REGION
SOUTH WEST REGION
GREAT SOUTHERN
WHEATBELT
YEAGERUPLAKENP
SHANNON
NP
GARDENER NP
D’ENTRECASTERAUXNP
GREATERHAWKENP
WINDYHARBOUR
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1 : 7 5 0 0 1 : 7 5 0 0
1930GREATDEPRESSION
1924-1930
WW11
2015FIRE
1995TIMBERMILLSHUTDOWN
1976DAIRYQUOTAS
1960FIRE1950sABUNDANCE
NOW

2. / / D E N D R O C H R O N O L O G Y
THE SCIENCE OR TECHNIQUE OF DATING EVENTS,
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTEFACTS BY USING THE
CHARACTERISTIC PATTERNS OF ANNUAL GROWTH RINGS IN TIMBER.
The timeline can be converted into Northcliffe’s
own tree section, echoing the micro - macro
studies gathered, and manifesting the aim to grow
organically.
1930s GP
BIRTH
1924-1930
WW11
1950s ABUNDANCE
1960 FIRE
1976 DAIRY QUOTAS
1995 TIMBER MILL SHUTS
2015
FIRE THE TREE RINGS ARE BROKEN UP AND OVERLAYED
ONTO NORTHCLIFFE AT DIFFERENT SCALES WITHIN THE AREA OF
‘FAT’ THAT REQUIRES METABOLIZATION.
BREAKING THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER EMPHASISES THEIR
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE LARGER CONTEXT.
EACH SERIES OF RINGS ARE CENTERED RELATIVE TO THE CONTEXT.
THESE RINGS ARE INTERPRETATED AS DIFFERENT FORMS OF
SHELTER TO ENHANCE THE FORMS OF ARCHITECTURE THAT
ALREADY EXIST.
// THE BIRTH RINGS
ARE CENTERED ON THE FIRST BUILDING OF NORTHCLIFFE; THE OLD CRAFT
STORE. THE BIRTH RINGS WORK AT A SCALE THAT VISUALIZES THEIR
ANALOGY, AND EXTRUDE TO FORM SHELTERS FROM LONG DRIVES.
// THE HARDSHIP RINGS
THE DEPRESSION, WW11, THE DAIRY QUOTAS AND THE TIMBER MILL
CLOSING DOWN ARE GROUPED AS ‘HARDSHIP’ RINGS. THEY ARE CENTERED
ON THE INTERSECTION, THE CRUX OF TOWN AND FORM A SERIES OF
WALKING TRAILS, AS SHELTER FROM THE CITY. APPROPRIATELY,
NORTHCLIFFE'S PREVAILANCE THROUGH HARDSHIPS WILL ENHANCE ITS
MOST POPULAR TOURIST ACTIVITY.
//THE ABUNDANCE RINGS
THE ABUNDANCE RINGS ARE CENTERED ON THE TIMBER MILL, ONCE A SIGN
POST FOR PROSPERITY. USING MATERIALS FROM THE OLD MILL, THEY
FORM A COMMUNITY MIXED USE PAVILLION, A SHELTER FROM ISOLATION.
// THE FIRE RINGS
THE SCARS FROM THE FIRE RINGS FORM A SCULPTURAL
SHELTER, THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE SITE, FORMING AN AREA TO PLAY,
AN ARRIVAL SIGNPOST, AND A VISUAL CELEBRATION OF NORTHCLIFFE AND
IT’S PERSERVERING EXISTENCE IN THE SOUTHWEST KARRI FORREST.
1 : 1 5 0 0 0
Another fire scar of the biggest fire
Northcliffe has been threatened with,
yet could not bring down the tree.
The birth of Northcliffe is indicated
by a series of wide spread rings,
which indicate times of prosperity
and potential.
A series of three, very narrow rings.
A time of drought/deprivation is usu-
ally indicated by 1-3 narrow rings as
any more indicates overcrowding.
Another series of three
narrow rings
A fire leaves a scar on the tree
section, nonetheless it belongs to
the map of the tree, and contributes
to the overall structure.
Another series of three narrow rings,
as one of Northcliffe’s primary
industries were hit by globalism.
A series of three narrow rings as
another industry is struck down,
this time to a complete stop.
The years of abundance in the 50s
create wide rings, contributing rapid
growth to Northcliffe’s tree
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3. LEGEND
A // 2015 FIRE SCAR
B // 1960 FIRE SCAR
C // BIRTH RING
PICNIC AREA SHELTER
D // BIRTH RING
PETROL AREA SHELTER
E // WALKING TRAILS
F // TIMBER MILL COMMUNITY
SHELTER
GREEN SPACE IN ‘FAT’
ZONE
EXISITNG GRID
EXPANDING GRID
L O C A T IO N M A P 1 : 60 000
1. 1960 FIRE SCAR PLAN 1 : 3000
3. 1950S TIMBER MILL MAP 1 : 3000
1.
2. MASTER PLAN 1 : 3000
2.
3.
JOURNEY
SIGN POST
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4. / / A V I S U A L J O U R N E Y
VISITORS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL BE
GUIDED THROUGH THE NARRATIVE OF NORTHCLIFFE’S
GROWTH RINGS AND THE SHELTERS THEY
FORM, VIA AN APP THAT CAN BE ACCESSED FOR FREE.
AN INFORMATION SCULPTURE WILL PROVIDE A CENTRAL
GATHERING POINT FOR THOSE STARTING THEIR JOURNEY.
THE BREAKDOWN OF SCALE AND ORDER IN THE RINGS,
AIMS TO REITERATE THE NOTION OF PERSONAL JOURNEY.
THERE IS NO GOAL IN THE EXPERIENCE, NO END , NO
WORKING ONE’S WAY IN OR OUT, OR AROUND. THE GROWTH
RINGS ARE A MANIFESTATION OF WHAT ALREADY EXISTS,
AND ENCOURAGES GROWTH IN THE TOWN TO EXPAND
ORGANICALLY.
B U S H W A L K E R S F O L L O W I N G H A R D S H I P T R A I L S V I S I T O R S M E E T I N G A T I N F O R M A T I O N P O I N T
2 0 1 5 F I R E S C A R E N T R A N C E N A N N U P - P E M B E R T O N R D
2 0 1 5 F I R E S C A R S E C T I O N 1 : 1000
2 0 1 5 F I R E S C A R P L A N 1 : 3000
S H E L T E R F O R C A R S TO S T O P
+ S I G N P O S T F O R A R R I V A L O N
L O N G D R I V E S
F I R E S C A R A L T E R E D T E R R A I N
T O C E L E B R A T E T H E T O W N A N D I T S
P E R S E R V E R E N C E
F I R E S C A R A L T E R E D T E R R A I N
I N F R O N T O F S C H O O L F O R T A C T I L E
I N T E R A C T I O N W I T H T H E S C A R
R E F E R E N C E M A P 1 : 6 0 000
NANNUP
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5. / / S H E L T E R W I T H I N T H E T H R E S H O L D
THROUGH ACTIVATION IN THE AREAS RECOGNIZED AS FAT, THE TOWN WILL APPROPRIATELY
METABOLIZE; THE PROCESSING OF PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE TRAFFIC AND PARKING,
VISITOR INTERACTION AND PERSPECTIVE WILL REACH A HEALTHY, EFFICIENT AND
INTEGRATED LEVEL.
THE ACTIVATION IS PACIFIED AND DELICATE.
THE VAST POTENTIAL OF GROWTH; THE SAME POTENTIAL THAT RESIDES IN ANY LIVING
ORGANISM, LIVES WITHIN NORTHCLIFFE.
THIS INSERTION OF ARCHITECTURE DOES NOT CHALLENGE THE POWER OF THESE NATURAL
FORCES. INSTEAD IT AIMS TO HARNESS, ASSIST, AND PROVIDE A VISUALIZATION OF THE
INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF GROWTH TO THE LIFE FORCE OF NORTHCLIFFE;
THE PEOPLE.
B I R T H R I N G S F O R M I N G S H E L T E R F R O M T H E E L E M E N T S + L O N G D R I V E S
T I M B E R M I L L P L A N 1 : 3000 T I M B E R M I L L ( R E C Y C L E D ) C O M M U N I T Y S H E L T E R F R O M I S O L A T I O N 1 : 3000
R E F E R E N C E M A P 1 : 6 0 000
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